The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1887-07-22
"a DARLING.

thoroughfare. The one who lived ill the
city was ON his way to meet a pressing en-
gagment. After a few expressions of de-
light, lie said:
"Well, I'm off. Pm sorry, but it can't
be helped. will look for you tomorrow
at dinner. Remember, two o'clock sharp.
I'm a~nxiou for You to see my wife and
child"
"Only one chill?" asked the other.
''Only onc," came the answer tenderly,
"a daughter. She's 4 darling, I do assure
you"
And they parted; the stranger in the
city getting into 4 street car bound for the
park whittier he desired to go.
After a block or two, a group of five
girls entered the ear; they were all young,
and evidently belonged to families of
wealth and culture-that is, intellectual
cnlture-as they conversed we'll. Each
carried a very deliberately decorated lunch
basket; each was attired in q very becom-
ing spring suit. Doubtless, they too, were
going to the park for a spring picnic.
They seemed very happy anu amiablc un-
til the car again stopped, this time letting
in q pale-faced girl of about eleven and a
sick boy Of four. These children were
~shabbily dressed, and upon their faces were
looks of distress mingled with some ex-
pectancy. Were they, too, on their way
to the park? The gentleman thought so;
so did the group of girls, for he heard one
of them say, with a look of disdain:
81 suppose those ragmnfins are on an
excursion, too"
Il shouldn't want to leave my door if |
had to look like thai. Would you?"
This from another girl.
"No, indeed! But there is no account
ing for tastes. think there ought to be a
special line of cars for the lower classes. "
All this conversation went on in a low
tone, but the gentleman had heard it. Had
the child, too? He glanced at the pale
face and saw tears glistening in the eyes.
Then he looked at the group of finely
dressed girls, who had moved as far from
the plebian as the limits of the car would
allow. He was angry. He longed to tell
them that they were vain and heartless as
they drew their costly trappings closerabout
them, as if fearful of contact with poverty's
children.
Just then the exclamation = "Why,
there is Nettie! Wonder where. she is 60
ing''-caused him to look out upon the
corner, where a sweet-faced young girl
stood reckoning to the car-driver. When
she entered the car she was warmly greet
ed by the five, and they made room for her
beside them. They were profuso in their
EXPLANATIONS and questions.
"Where are you goiag?" asked one.
ooh, what lovely flowers, Whom are
they for??" questioned another.
"I'm OF my way to Belle Clark's. She
is sick, you know, and the flowers are for
her.
She answered both questions at once,
and then, glancing toward the door of the
car, she saw the pale girl looking wistfully
at her. She smiled at the child, a tender
look beaming from her beautiful eyes, and
then, forgetting that she, too, wore a hand
some velvet skirt and costly jacket, and
that her shapely hands were covered with
well-fitted gloves, she left her seat and
crossed over to the little ones. She laid
one hand caressingly on the boys thin
checks, as she asked interestedly of his
sister:
''The little boy is sick, is he not ? And
he is your brother, l am sure, he elings so
to YOU"
Itseemed hard for the girl toanswcr, but
finally she said:
eyes; miss, he is sick. Freddie never
has been we'll. Yes, miss, he is my brother.
We're going to the park to sec if 'twont
make Freddie better"
Il am glad you are going the young
girl replied, in n low voice meant for no
ones ears except those of the child adj
it is lovely there, with the spring flowers
all i'll bloom. But where is YOU lunch?
You onght to have 4 lunch after so long q
drive"
Over the little girls face came a flush.
eyes, miss, mcbbe we ought to, for
Freddie's sake; but, you see, we didn't
have any lunch to bring. Tim-he's our
brother-he saved these pennies purpose so
as Freddie could ride to the park and back.
| guess mebbe Freddie II forget about be-
ing hungry when he gets to the beautiful
park"
Were there tears in the lovely girls eyes
as she listened? Yes, there certainly were;
and very soon she asked the girl where
they lived, and wrote the address down in
a tablet which she took from a beaded
bag upon her arm.
After riding a few blocks the pretty girl
left the car, but she had not left the little
ones comfortless. Half the bouquet of
violets and hyacinths was clasped in the
sisters hand, while the sick boy, with ra-
diant face, held in his hand a precious
package, from which he helped himself
now and then, saying to his sister, in a
~jubilant whisper:
s'She said we could eat 'em all-every
one-when we get to the park. What
made her so sweet and good to us? She
didn't call MS ragamuffins, and wasn't